Chapter 79: Loyalty

The sun was already blazing in the room when Hope opened her eyes. She stretched out slightly before noticing how the rays lightly caressed Drake's face. His milk-white complexion nearly gleamed as he fixed his serious stare on the ceiling. Hope could tell he had been awake for a long time by the way he held his palms beneath his head. She cracked a grin. "How much do you want for your thoughts?"

Drake didn't take his gaze away from the ceiling, as if something essential was going on up there. "Hope, we need to solve the important unspoken issue that we have."

She yawned, still a little drowsy. "So serious, so early. Can't wait until later?"

Her hand lay on his naked chest, and she began to trace imaginary circles around his nipple with her index finger. Drake placed his hand on hers, stopping it in place.